he was from a wealthy family, but was orphaned at a young age and joined the roman army, eventually rising to the rank of first tribune under the emperor diocletian and was martyred by the same, after being exposed as a christian.

he is known as the patron saint of hunters and athletes, and is invoked as a defense against plague, pestilence and sickness.    on its founding in 1565, the city of rio de janeiro was christened são sebastião do rio de janeiro, both in honor of the saint and of the king of portugal at the time, d. sebastião.